news & views on the Alberta Technology sector

Where Does Alberta Rank on Innovation?

October 22, 2015: Premier Rachel Notley has created a new ministry to spur economic growth and diversification in Alberta, with MLA Deron Bilous at the helm. This new ministry brings work currently spread between several departments under one umbrella. The government says the ministry is primarily concentrated in Innovation and Advanced Education and International and Intergovernmental Relations, but will also be supported by several agencies, including the Alberta Innovates corporations. It is to be guided by the advice of the Premier’s Advisory Committee on the Economy.

Welcome Minister Bilous, looks like we have our work cut out for us;

Alberta places 15th among the 26 comparator jurisdictions and earns a “C” grade on the overall innovation report card.

The Alberta Technology community looks forward to supporting and working with you in your new portfolio, objectives and responsibilities.

The Conference Board of Canada recently shared an update on national and provincial innovation ranking. They begin with the working definition of innovation used:

Putting innovation in context

What is innovation? The Conference Board defines innovation as a process through which economic or social value is extracted from knowledge—by creating, diffusing, and transforming ideas—to produce new or improved products, services, and processes.

Ontario, Quebec and BC ranked as Canada’s top innovators. Here’s the Conference Board on Alberta’s ranking:

“How does the other most populous province, Alberta, do?

Alberta places 15th among the 26 comparator jurisdictions and earns a “C” grade on the overall innovation report card. With more than 18 per cent of Albertans reporting some kind of early-stage entrepreneurial activity, the province places first and scores an “A+” for entrepreneurial ambition. It also earns an “A” and ranks first among the provinces for enterprise entries, reinforcing perceptions of Alberta as a province of self-starting entrepreneurs. The province earns “B” grades for scientific articles, connectivity, and labour productivity; however, its grade on labour productivity may be more the result of its resource-intensive economy (with resource riches contributing to its higher GDP per hour worked) than its innovation performance as such. Alberta earns a “C” on ICT investment but receives “D”s on 3 of the 11 indicators—patents, venture capital investment, and public R&D—and “D–” grades on researchers and BERD.”

For additional detail in the report including Canada’s ranking on the international scale –